Amherst Orchid Show, 2011. February 28, 2011
Posted by littlebangtheory in Art and Nature, macro photos.Tags: Amherst Orchid Show, macro photos, Northampton, orchids
trackback
OK folks, it’s time for Our Yearly Orchasm!
The Amherst Orchid Show, held again this year in Northampton (!) is a sight for winter-weary eyes – a large room full of outrageous form and color, and stuffed full of delighted Flower Zombies milling about and muttering, “Oh, Harold, look at THIS one!”
At first glance it’s a cacophony of color:
…but like much of what’s complex in the world, it divulges its secrets to those willing to take it apart.
A constellation of stars rode high above a ruby sunset:
…as a choir of Angels descended from their Heavenly trellis:
…and a family looked up in slack-jawed amazement :
There were simple single blossoms:
…and some that were fantastical in form:
There were Lady’s Slippers:
…and classics of the family Orchidaceae:
There were interesting pairings of climbers:
…and standers:
…the depths of which caused palpitations in otherwise staid admirers:
…and still others which challenged Elvis for the title of King of the Velvet:
…and some so other-worldly as to seem like beautiful fictions:
I think that’s my favorite shot from the day.
A lot of these takes were in the 15-30 second range; I’d love a chance to get in there without the crowds milling about, as even the breezes of passing people caused enough motion in the more delicate specimens to make photographing them a low-probability prospect. Nonetheless, I got better shots this year than last, and I’m pretty jazzed about that.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed viewing these as much as I enjoyed taking them.
G’night, now!
😉
Those are really beautiful, and amazing. The colors were so stunning and vivid.
I remember that we had lady slippers at the house I grew up in. Our property had a piece of swamp. And that’s where the lady slippers lived.
Hi eileen. 🙂
Yeah, lady slippers like edges, which swamps have (they’re “succession” plants, and will move as forests progress into meadows or marshes.) I’ve gone back years later to places where I remember them being and didn’t find them; it took me a while to figure out why!
What a profusion of exotic loveliness. Orchasm is the right word for it. I’ve been looking forward to this since you warned us it was coming. Nice work, Ralph!
You’ve certainly done an amazing job capturing the extraordinary magnificence of these beings that go beyond flowers. Your descriptions were very apt and charming too 🙂
THANK YOU! Gorgeous! I’ve become a daily follower instead of a sometime looker. I love your commentary and descriptions as well.
Paul, Susan, Thanks! I appreciate your appreciation! 🙂
Stephanie, welcome, and thanks for commenting. It’s always nice to get new “regulars,” and makes me work to boot my Game up!